The Penguin Book of Witches

  4. There is a Witchduck Lane off Lynnhaven Bay in Princess Anne County, Virginia, and a nearby neighborhood is referred to on Google Maps as Salem. Data retrieved March 10, 2012.

  5. “Uxor” is Latin for “wife.”

  6. Original document reads “Differr,” and might imply that the jury of women is to ascertain if Grace Sherwood’s body has any marked differences from what is expected, which might determine that she is a witch.

  7. Anew, that is, to have Grace Sherwood examined again.

  8. To look for “images and such like things” suggests that the court wanted Sherwood’s house searched for poppets and other examples of image magic.

  9. The first jury of women assembled to search Grace Sherwood for teats actually refused to do so and were then charged with contempt.

  10. Grace is to be tossed into water “above a man’s depth” and have her ability to float gauged. However, care is to be taken to keep her from drowning.

  11. Grace Sherwood is ducked and searched and found guilty, but instead of being hanged, is committed to prison. By 1705/6 witches were no longer the mortal threat that they had been a mere decade earlier.

  MOB JUSTICE IN THE SOUTH, 1712

  1. Excerpted from Samuel G. Drake, Annals of Witchcraft in New England and Elsewhere in the United States from Their First Settlement. Originally published in New York, 1869, 215–16.

  LITTLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, 1720

  1. Excerpted from Thomas Hutchinson, History of Massachusetts-Bay, vol. II. Originally published in Boston, 1767, 20–22.

  2. Proverbs 19:5, “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.”

  3. The key word here being credulity, not only of the girls’ parents, but also of the neighbors who diagnosed witchcraft in the first place. As an explanatory category, witchcraft has persisted to 1720, even though Hutchinson would have his readers see this account as an example of the fallacy of belief in it.

  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, 1728

  1. The First Great Awakening was a period of religious revival that took place in the North American colonies from the 1730s until the early 1740s. Whereas ministers of Samuel Parris’s generation delivered intellectual sermons that were dense in their theological underpinnings and argumentation, the leaders of the First Great Awakening emphasized an emotional experience of faith for their congregations.

  2. Excerpted from The Weekly News-Letter, Boston, MA, no. 97, October 31, 1728, 1–2.

  3. The most popular contemporary representation of the diagnosis of witchcraft via weight doubtless occurs in a scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), in which a suspected witch is weighed against a duck, which, if they weigh the same, would mean she floats in water, and is therefore guilty of witchcraft. She is found guilty and hauled away to her death, commenting, “It’s a fair cop.”

  NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 1737

  1. Excerpted from The New-York Weekly Journal, New York, NY, no. 214, December 12, 1737, 1.

  NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 1741

  1. The best account of this grim episode in the history of colonial New York is found in Jill Lepore, New York Burning: Liberty, Slavery, and Conspiracy in Eighteenth Century Manhattan (New York: Vintage, 2006).

  2. Excerpted from The New England Weekly Journal, September 29, 1741, 1–2.

  3. Latin for “Though the name changes, the moral stays the same.”

  4. The idea of witchcraft as an impossible act underscores what the writer sees as the unreason of the position that a group of conspirators should be responsible for burning the city. Witchcraft has transformed into a rhetorical device, one that will persist well into the twenty-first century, to denote unreason, paranoia, and irrational fear.

  PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, 1787

  1. Excerpted from Old Whig, From the Independent Gazetteer, &c. (Philadelphia, 1787).

  2. Exodus 22:18, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

  MOLL PITCHER, LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, 1738–1813

  1. For more on the consumer revolution of the eighteenth century, see Richard Bushman, The Refinement of America: Persons, Houses, Cities (New York: Vintage, 1992).

  2. Excerpted from Samuel G. Drake, Annals of Witchcraft in New England and Elsewhere in the United States from Their First Settlement. Originally published in New York, 1869, xliv–xlvii.

  3. High Rock is now marked by a tower within a state park in Lynn, Massachusetts.

  Index

  The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. To find the corresponding locations in the text of this digital version, please use the “search” function on your e-reader. Note that not all terms may be searchable.

  Aires, Samuel, 165

  Alexander VI, Pope, 46

  Allington, Giles, 50, 51, 251n

  Andrews, Ann, 189–90

  Andrews, James, 176

  Anthony, Allan, 59

  Apollonius Tyaneus, 203–4

  Aquendero (chief Sachem), 207

  Ayres, Widow, 71

  Baker, Thomas, 59

  Barber, William, 54

  Barnes, Elizabeth, 216

  Batcheler, John, 198

  Bellomont, Earl of, 207

  Benedict VII, Pope, 46

  Best, John, 165

  Beylie, Alice, 52, 251n

  Bibber, Goodwife, 170, 171, 172, 180

  Bibber, John, 170, 172

  Bible, 3–5, 31, 149, 178, 221, 228, 240n, 243n, 244n, 247n, 276n, 280n

  Bishop, Bridget, 166, 195, 274n

  examination of, 167–68, 274n

  Bishop, Sarah, 274n

  Blasdell, Harry, 72

  Boddie, John Bennett, 250n

  Bodin, Jean, 280n

  Bonah, Maxmt., 217

  Booking, Jane, 85

  Book of New England Legends and Folklore in Prose and Poetry, A (Drake), 257n

  Booth, Sergeant, 51

  Boulton, Nathaniel, 64–65

  Boulton family, 255n

  Bowen, Elizabeth, 54

  Bowen, Thomas, 54

  Boyer, Paul, 125–26, 266n, 268n

  Bracketts, Captain, 175

  Bradbury, Thomas, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68

  Bradstreet, Simon, 74

  Brattle, Thomas, 193, 194

  Braybrook, Samuel, 167, 170

  Brentius, Johan, 17

  Bridges, Ann, 216

  Brief and True Narrative of Some Remarkable Passages Relating to Sundry Persons Afflicted by Witchcraft, A (Lawson), 275n

  Brigham, John, 163

  Brown, Charles, 71, 73, 258n

  Bulkley, Mr., 101

  Burchard, Henry, 236

  Burgess, Mary, 216

  Burnham, Nathaniel, 163

  Burro, Beno, 215

  Burroughs, George, 189, 203, 213, 275n, 280n

  Hobbs’s accusation against, 173–77, 276n

  Hubbard’s statement against, 182–83

  Burroughs, Goodwife, 173, 174, 176–77

  Burroughs, J. J., 219

  Butten, Mathias, 78

  Buxton, Jane, 90

  Buxton, John, 168

  Calef, Robert, 169, 199–206, 275n, 280n

  Carrier, Martha, 186, 213, 278n

  examination of, 186–88

  Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Personating Men (I. Mather), 193

  Chandler, Susan, 85

  Chapman, Henry, 215, 216, 217, 218

  Charles II, King of England, 59, 85, 260n

  Cheevers, Ezekiel, 139, 150, 270n, 271n

  Churchill, Sarah, 189–90

  Clifford, Jon, 68

  Clifford, Sarah, 67

  Clinton, Laurence, 162, 164

  Clinton, Rachel, 273n–74n


  Knowlton’s deposition on, 164–65

  warrant for, 162–63

  Cobbet, Mr., 108

  Cobby, Goodman, 73

  Cole, Anne, 79–82

  Cole, Eunice, 62–68, 70, 255n, 256n–57n, 266n

  complaint against, 62–63

  depositions against, 63–68

  judgment of, 68

  Cole, John, 79

  Cole, William, 63

  Coleman, Mary, 64–65

  Coleman, Thomas, 65, 66

  Colonial Surry (Boddie), 250n

  Corbmaker (old woman), 233

  Cornick, John, 215, 216, 217, 218

  Corwin, Jonathan, 129, 131, 133, 156, 161, 167, 169, 185, 270n

  Cory, Deliverance, 272n

  Cory, Giles, 149, 150–51, 154, 156, 169, 272n

  examination of, 169–72, 275n

  Cory, Martha, 149, 157, 169, 178, 182, 271n, 275n

  examination of, 150–56, 271n–72n

  Cotle, Mary, 216

  Court of Oyer and Terminer, 184–85, 193, 195

  Cowman, John, 112

  Crosby, Henry, 272n

  Crucible, The (Miller), 270n

  Cullender, Rose, 85, 90, 91

  Cullick, Captain, 94

  Currin, Mr., 138

  Cushing, J. P., 214

  Daemonologie (James I), 16, 30–40, 244n–48n, 276n

  Dalton, Samuel, 67, 68

  Dane, John, 198

  Daniel (char.), 23–29, 243n

  Daniels, Cora Linn, 242n–43n

  Darcy, Brian, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

  Darlington, Oscar G., 250n

  Davies, Owen, 239n

  Davis, Ephraim, 71

  Davis, James, 71

  Davis, Winifred, 216

  Dawson, Thomas, 238n

  Decanniffore (Onondaga Indian), 207

  De Mill, Anthonio, 59

  Deming, Sarah, 93

  Demos, John Putnam, 256n, 258n, 273n–74n

  Denny, Amy (Amy Duny), 85, 86, 87–91, 260n–61n

  Devil, xiii, 17, 18, 20, 21, 50, 66, 70, 73, 74, 76, 79, 80, 81–82, 91, 112, 202–3, 207, 220, 225, 228, 230, 265n

  ability to assume shape of innocent person of, 61, 157, 178, 193, 194, 254n

  absolute belief in, 182–83, 263n

  covenants with, 81, 84, 98, 99, 100, 102, 103, 104–6, 109, 111, 120, 145–47, 148, 154, 155, 159, 167, 170, 176, 189–90, 194, 200, 201, 212–13, 262n, 263n, 270n, 271n, 272n, 280n

  in Daemonologie, 30–31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 244n, 245n, 246n, 247n, 248n

  in Dialogue Concerning Witches and Witchcraft, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 243n

  in Discourse on the Damned Art of Witchcraft, 42, 44, 45, 46, 249n, 250n

  in Knapp possession, 95–111, 114, 262n, 263n

  in Salem witch trials, 125, 126, 132, 133, 135–39, 140, 141, 145–48, 149, 152, 154, 155, 157, 159–60, 164, 165, 167, 170, 173, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182–83, 186, 187, 189–90, 195, 210, 211, 212–13, 268n, 269n, 271n, 272n, 275n, 276n, 277n, 278n, 280n

  speaking through others by, 97, 98, 107–8, 109, 110–11

  Tituba’s description of, 132, 141, 269n, 278n

  Devil in Massachusetts, The (Starkey), 267n

  Devil in the Shape of a Woman, The (Karlsen), 126, 255n, 257n, 261n

  Dialogue Concerning Witches and Witchcraft, A (Gifford), 22–29, 241n–43n

  Dimis, Hannah, 216

  Dimond, John, Jr., 235

  Dimond, John, Sr., 235

  Discouerie of Witchcraft, The (Scot), 7, 15–21, 240n–41n

  Discourse of the Damned Art of Witchcraft, A (Perkins), 41–46, 132, 248n–50n

  Dolman, Mrs., 93

  Dow, Henry, 63, 64

  Drake, Abraham, 66, 255n

  Drake, Robert, 66

  Drake, Samuel, 257n

  Durent, Ann, 85

  Durent, Dorothy, 85–88

  Durent, Elizabeth, 85, 87–88

  Durent, William, 85–87

  Durston, Gregory, 237n–38n

  Dutton, Samuel, 67

  Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 7, 41

  Elliott, Andrew, 198

  Encyclopaedia of Superstitions (Daniels and Stevans, eds.), 242n–43n

  English, William, 63

  Entertaining Satan (Demos), 256n, 258n, 273n–74n

  Epistemon (char.), 31, 32–40, 245n

  Essay for the Recording of Illustrious Providences, An (I. Mather), 95

  Estabrooke, Mr., 101

  Eve, 37, 246n, 249n

  Evelith, Joseph, 198

  Everyday Life in Early America (Hawke), 269n

  Faith No More, 256n

  Feavor, Dr., 89

  Felgate, Mr., 51

  Ferrall, John, 18–19

  Fisk, Thomas, Jr., 198

  Fisk, Thomas, Sr., 198

  Fiske, William, 198

  Fits, Richard, 163

  Foster, Ann, 213

  Fowler, Rebecca, 112–13, 264n

  Francis, Joan, 92–93

  Frazer, James George, 242n

  Fuller, Joseph, 163

  Fuller, Lieutenant, 138

  Fuller, Mary (junior), 163

  Fuller, Mary (senior), 163

  Fuller, William, 63

  Garland, John, 59

  Garret, Goodwife, 93

  Gaul, Mr., 205

  Gedney, Bartholomew, 185

  Gidney, Major, 171

  Gifford, George, 22–29, 241n–43n, 244n, 248n, 249n, 250n, 252n

  Glover, Goodwife, 114–21, 264n–65n

  execution of, 121

  imprisonment of, 117–18, 119–21

  trial of, 118–19, 264n

  Goddard, Jon, 65

  Goddard, Sarah, 216

  Godfrey, John, 70–78, 258n, 259n, 260n

  court list of witnesses against, 71

  testimonies against, 71–77

  trial verdict for, 77–78

  Goff, Phillip, 94

  Gold, Benjamin, 170

  Gold, Nathan, 72, 73

  Gold, Thomas, 171, 275n

  Golden Bough, The (Frazer), 242n

  Good, Sarah, 135, 166, 174, 211, 265n–66n, 267n–68n, 271n, 272n

  examination of, 132, 133–35

  in Tituba’s confession, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143–44, 145, 147, 148, 270n

  warrant for, 127–28

  Good, William, 128, 129, 135, 168, 268n

  Goodwin, John, 114, 115, 117, 210

  Gould, Nathan, 72

  Gragg, Larry, 41

  Gray, Rebecca, 51, 251n

  Greensmith, Goody, 94

  Greensmith, Nathaniel, 79

  Greensmith, Rebecca, 79

  Griggs, William, 143, 144, 266n, 270n

  Griswold, Michael, 93

  Haart, Bethazar D., 59

  Haggai (prophet), 18

  Haile, Mary, 93, 262n

  Hale, John, 56–57, 84, 193, 209–13, 253n, 281n–82n

  Hale, Matthew, 85, 212

  Hall, David, 254n–55n, 258n, 259n, 260n, 275n

  Hall, Mary, 58–59, 60–61, 253n, 254n

  Hall, Ralph, 58–61, 253n, 254n

  Hancock, George, 215, 216, 217

  Harper, Jonathan, 218

  Harris, Thomas, 51

  Harrison, Katherine, 92–94, 262n

  Hathorne, John, 129, 131, 185

  Bishop examination by, 167–68, 274n

  Giles Cory examination by, 169–72, 275n

  Good examination by, 133–34

  Martha Cory examination by, 150–56, 271n, 272n

  Nurse examination by, 158??
?61, 273n

  Osburn examination by, 135–36

  Tituba examination by, 136–39

  Hawke, David Freeman, 269n

  Hayne, Thomas, 71–73

  Haynes, Joseph, 81

  Helmet, Mr., 59

  Henley, Ursula, 216

  Herrick, Henry, 198

  Herrick, Joseph, 131

  Herrick, Marshal, 166

  Heseltine, John, 71

  Heseltine, Jane, 71

  Hibbens, Ann, 257n

  Higgins, Ann (Ann Huggins), 66–67, 68

  Hill, Luke, 215, 216, 217, 218

  Hinnom, 5

  Historical Collections of Virgnia (Howe), 282n

  History of Massachusetts-Bay (Hutchinson), 283n

  History of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, The (Hutchinson), 221–23

  Hobbs, Abigail, 173–77, 276n

  Hobbs, Deliverance, 212–13

  Holdred, Isabell, 71, 72–73

  Holdridge, Goodwife, 71–72

  Homer, 204

  Hooker, Samuel, 81

  Horace, 204

  Howe, Henry, 282n

  Howen (Glover neighbor), 119

  Hubbard, Elizabeth, 138, 139, 143, 145, 159, 161, 167, 170, 179, 180, 187, 266n, 269n, 270n, 273n

  statement against Burroughs of, 182–83

  Hubert, Elizabeth, 128, 131

  Hughes (Glover neighbor), 119–20

  Hutcheson, Joseph, 128, 130

  Hutchinson, John, 168

  Hutchinson, Thomas, 221–23, 283n

  Hutton, Ronald, 237n

  Icarus, 281n

  In the Devil’s Snare (Norton), 126, 266n, 267n, 268n, 274n

  Ingersoll, Joseph, 174

  Ingersoll, Nathaniel, 129, 131

  Ingersoll, Sarah, 189–90

  Jacob, Doctor, 86, 260n

  Jacobs, George, Sr., 189

  James, Jane, 53–54

  James I, King of England, 16, 22, 30–40, 84, 220, 226, 228, 244n–48n, 249n, 250n, 263n, 276n

  James II, King of England, 278n

  Jesus Christ, 17, 18, 34, 37, 40, 57, 72, 91, 105, 107, 120, 200, 245n, 247n, 249n, 265n

  Job, 31, 38, 39, 240n, 248n

  John Indian (Tituba’s husband), 178, 179, 180, 281n

  Johnson, Goodwife, 93

  John XX, Pope, 46

  John XXI, Pope, 46

  Jones, Margaret, 55–57, 252n–53n

  Jones, Thomas, 51